Family members and caregivers are often tasked with providing support, encouragement and assistance as a patient recovers from a stroke. They are often tasked with helping a loved one perform daily tasks as well as making sure they are safe.

While the caregivers’ actions are appreciated by the survivor, and can also be rewarding as they see the survivor make progress in his or her recovery, it can also be difficult. Caring for someone can be stressful and at times frustrating.

To help curb these emotional ups and downs, it’s important to find ways to release stress, to have a support system to help share some of the caretaking responsibilities, and to communicate with the patient. These can all help make things easier for the patient and the caregiver.